ORIGIN

Maserati Powered Rarity: 1973 Ligier JS2

This 1973 Ligier JS2 is a late production model, meaning it features a Maserati Merak/Citroen SM V6 instead of the rather more pedestrian Ford bent six of earlier cars. From what we can make out through the ad, it’s recently been completely restored mechanically and cosmetically. Though not a great commercial success, the JS2 was a thoroughly engineered and well regarded sports car, and is a model rarely seen outside of its native France. We can’t find an agreed upon production figure, but you can be sure there weren’t many made. Find this one here on Leboncoin.fr in Western France for 65k Euros (~$86,000 today) OBO. Special thanks to BaT reader Jan W. for this submission!

Founded by French rugby player and racing driver Guy Ligier in 1968, the SJ2 remained into production until the 1973 Oil Crisis put a halt to things in either ’73 or ’74 – an internet expertise consensus isn’t forthcoming, as is the story for most info regarding the JS2. Named in honor of his friend and F1 business partner Jo Schlesser, who was tragically killed at the 1968 French Grand Prix at the wheel of a Honda RA302, the JS2 was built with a fiberglass, Frua-designed body over a separate frame that featured all independent suspension by means of coil springs and A-arms at all four corners.

Designed with handling and comfort in mind, the JS2 featured relatively large doors allowing easy entry to an airy, tall glasshouse. First sold with a 165 HP fuel-injected Ford V6 of 2600 CC, the Maserati six of this car became the production standard from 1971 forward-both cars featured an SM five-speed transaxle, however. Incidentally, late production run SM construction was contracted out by Citroen to Ligier, who assembled the cars at the same Vichy plant where the JS6 took shape.

This one certainly looks good based on the few pictures provided, but as with any car, let alone an overseas, low-production exotic , we’d want to see it for ourselves before seriously considering a purchase. Fiberglass can badly haze and crack with age, and it’s not very difficult to hide big flaws under a bit of hasty patchwork and new paint. The complex nature of the SM V6 further necessitates a thorough PPI. Said to handle beautifully, you’ll already have guessed that they sound fantastic. Apparently they were quite fast, too, and could top out at 154 MPH.

While this car is likely to remain in France, we wouldn’t at all mind seeing it parked in a spectator lot at Laguna Seca or as a participant at a good vintage show-and-tell. Lovers of fast, sophisticated, and rare machines with a taste for the unusual would be hard-pressed to find another car that pushes so many buttons for the asking price, after all.